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Sunday, 27 October 2013

Open Mike: Fantasies (OT)

So here's an odd thing. I buy maybe two issues a year of Stereophile, and the last issue I bought had extensive reviews of not one but two components that cost $42,000. That's not for a whole music-playing stereo system, mind you—that's for one component, in a system that will need a bare minimum of four components—plus wires, which at that level will be a significant expense.

Then I bought an issue of Automobile, which I do probably six times a year (I enjoy Ezra Dyer's column). This issue had a comparison between the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta ($323,000) and the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series ($279,000).

I was really grateful for that. I've been just agonizing about which of those two cars to buy; I was so afraid of making the wrong choice and regretting it later that I thought I was going to have to break down and buy both of them! The article really let me rest my mind. They say to get the Ferrari, and that's good enough for me.

Leica S (this is the S2): The outlier.

Seriously, though, who cares about these things? I know several people who are (probably) wealthy enough to buy $300,000 cars, but I don't know a single person who would actually spend that much.

As far as stereo equipment is concerned, I have a basic rule: never buy anything with the words "Signature," "Reference," or the name of a precious metal or stone in the name.

I suppose people like reading about such things—$42,000 preamps and $323,000 cars. I don't. I agree that products tend to enter your interest range when they're at the top of or just barely beyond your ability to afford them, but there are some things I really believe I'd never buy even if I were a billionaire. When I read about fantasy cars, I might read about something that costs $90,000. But I don't even want to read about something that costs $900,000. It doesn't entertain me. I'm not interested. It's just ostentation, excess, and showing off, and I'm not susceptible to the allure of any of those things. Even in my daydreams.

The outside of my "fantasy" envelope where cameras are concerned is the Leica S. I'd never buy one, but I'm interested in reading about it. But that's as far as it goes. That's the edge. (My photographic daydreams revolve more around free time, and help.)

Daydreamin': hmm, that looks like a Mazda Miata. Hmm, that lookslike a Corvette LS7 V8. $35,000, not including the car.

So what's the most expensive car you'll daydream about?

Mike

"Open Mike" appears on TOP only, but not always, on Sundays.

Original contents copyright 2013 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved. Links in this post may be to our affiliates; sales through affiliate links may benefit this site.

(To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below.)Featured Comments from:

David Bostedo (partial comment): "...Price is only one factor that affects interest."

David Lonsdale (partial comment): "The main thing is [not to] disrupt the family finances."

Bryce Lee: "Motor vehicle? They are all too expensive in ways other than monetary.
In my case, two
strikes against me: close to seven feet tall and 400 pounds means
nothing 'normal' will fit,
although my Honda Ridgeline Truck with the driver's seat set four inches
back is OK; my knees still hit the lower controls now and then.
Long term? As I age I find the physical requirements of driving aany
vehicle to be kind tiresome, and dangerous. So if I had my druthers,
1922 Rolls-Royce with seperate compartment for the chauffeur. It would
mean paying somebody to drive, maintain and geneally keep the vehicle
looking good.
And it would be driven by somebody else rather than me being driven, if
you catch my drift."

John Camp: "I don't dream of particular cars, but of particular performance. I want a car that handles well, is fast, and can take at least medium-rough off-road jaunts. (Remember the old saying: a really great 4x4 will get you stuck farther back in the wilderness.) After a lot of research, and looking at a lot of cars, I wound up with the Mercedes ML550. It has decent ground clearance and general off-road ability for the desert southwest, it's very comfortable for long trips, will haul a ton of stuff and a dog, and will do 0-60 in 4.8 seconds. For me, at this point, it's the perfect car. It's not cheap.

"On the other hand, I think the Ferraris, etc., have to be looked upon more as art works than as driving cars. Every once in a while, a Chinese princeling will kill himself in LA in one of them, but even in Beverly Hills, you don't see that many—and almost everyone in the upper parts of the Hills could afford one. But they just seem silly, unless perhaps you are very rich, and collect them very selectively, as art works.

"I think they're also less tenable in the U.S. Europeans, although a certain group of them would deny it, are much more class-ridden than the U.S. That's why even long-time democratic countries still have people called 'count' or 'duchess' or whatever, who are treated with undeserved deference, and a car like a Ferrari becomes a symbol not only of class, but also an object of envy for people who don't belong to that class. So if a middle-class guy gets rich in business, he might buy one to project an image of himself as belonging to that upper class....

"In the U.S., on the other hand, I think the sight of a Ferrari on the street less often brings up a surge of envy, than it does the thought, 'dipshit.'"

Mike replies: I hope no Ferrari drivers read this blog.

AL C.: "I own a Ferrari, an F430, and I enjoy reading TOP. The best description I've heard used re what makes driving a Ferrari such a surpassing experience is that the car literally fizzes. You feel the fizz through every part of your body. It's worth every penny. The only thing that compares is to play a Ken Wilkinson Decca recording through a pair of Genesis Ones. Same fizz."

John: "Back in the days I test drove a Porsche 911 and a Corvette, each for one
week. After that I concluded that my own Mazda Miata delivered the most
smiles per dollar and actual fun of driving on real roads.
Sold the Miata after the second kid was born. One day, I will have one
again."

Michael Matthews: "How about more info on that Mazda Miata? If it's a magazine article—what, where, when? I'm blissfully happy in the Miata on two-lane country roads, mild day, top down. But it is underpowered. The adaptation shown is way, way overpowered. But there may be a workable compromise someday. It's wonderful to have a brand new 50-year old two seat roadster, but the (necessary) automatic transmission means it does need a bit of a boost."

Mike replies: It's a conversion called a "Habu" by Flyin' Miata, a shop in Western Colorado. They even have "build diaries" at the website.

The hardnosed rec for a Miata with a useful power upgrade would be an NC Miata (2005–current) with a new suspension and a supercharger. Takes care of the power. (The stock suspension is squishy.) The sentimental recommendation, however, would be an NB, like I have, or an NA, if you are small enough to fit in one (I just barely fit into the NB, and as it is the crown of my head is out in the slipstream). Solution for more power is typically an aftermarket turbocharger, but that's not for me—the only place I miss the power is at low revs. At high revs the stock engine is very nice, at least on Uncle Sam's roads.

Patrick: "As a minimalist, I actually brag about what I do without in a car. I
drive about as base a base model car as you can find—by desire—and
still wish it had less. Ultimately, I am more impressed by solid
engineering and decent craftsmanship in a minimalist design at an
affordable price than all the expensive bells and whistles in the world.
Any manufacturer can throw a bunch of excess into a car when they price
it high enough, but the logistics required to make a good, well-engineered car at a low price are far more impressive to me."

Mike replies: I sympathize. Jay Leno talks about how he appreciates cars that were the product of a single individual's vision. The problem there is that there are no longer any such cars being made...virtually every car readily available to the public is the product of—in effect—a committee. So a car with a strong vision of what you're describing is unlikely to exist, because marketers tie "higher quality" and "more features" together. Cars that are basic in the sense of "no frills" are also likely to be cheap, with compromised materials and components.

MarkB: "In the late '80s, I lucked into a backstage pass for a Pink Floyd concert (long post-Roger Waters) and through some twists of circumstance, found myself talking to Nick Mason (the drummer, whom most backstage didn't recognize) about his '63 ('not '62!') Ferrari 250 GTO and the annual 'GTO Owner's Club Rally' that many well-heeled (and a few less-heeled) enthusiasts participated in.

Nick Mason, drummer for Pink Floyd, and his '63 Ferrari 250 GTO

"Mr. Mason is in the price-no-object category of 'car guys,' but he still wants to drive every single vehicle he owns, and drive it hard. He also said something incredible about his life in the band and their success which provided the money to buy all those cars (somewhat paraphrased by my muddy memory)—'The music and cars...it's all just wonderful stuff made by people who care, but it won't last beyond a single human lifetime...so why not play it loud and drive it to pieces? That's simple enough.'

"My 'dream car' is a 1970 Jaguar E-type convertible. Simple enough."

Dave Stewart: "Come now, Mike, don't be so modest. As I alluded to in reply to an
earlier post, I took a recent film photo that was very relevant to you
and the website. Now that an appropriate post has appeared, the true
TOP-mobile can be revealed. Spied in Inverness (Scotland) on the 28th
August. I dusted down the scanner today especially:

Jim G: "If they can't tow a boat or haul 4x8 sheets of plywood, then what good are they?"

I don't drive myself so I would dream of a self-driving version and one that didn't poison the environment or kill people and one that possibly convoyed up in some way for long journeys and that allowed some social interaction with others in the convoy, before splitting up to complete the journey.

Lamborghini Miura. The last great looking Lambo (IMHO). Was thinking about it only this morning while watching an interminable F1 motor race from India. Out of production since 1972, I can only guess how much they go for...

To be fair to Stereophile, it makes a point of reviewing budget components in every issue and including them in its yearly roundup. I have gotten lots of good leads on low cost components. That said, I do not even bother with the reviews of stuff that costs more than the average car. As for cars, my first new car cost $1800 in 1969 and I have had sticker shock every since. A generic Chevy for $30k+? That once bought a Ferrari.

BTW - You can subscribe for less than the cost of 2 issues. Then you can be appalled each month.:-)

The most expensive car I daydream about is the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport. But cost doesn't factor into it. It's simply the fastest, most powerful, most heavily engineered street car out there, and I'd be interested even if it only cost slightly out of my price range (as opposed to stratospherically , ridiculously, mind-numbingly, out of my price range, at $2.5M).

On the photography front, by the same token, I'm interested in reading about large format gear for the capability and engineering, but not the special edition Leica's which are expensive simply because of exotic materials and being 1-offs. Basically, price is only one factor that affects interest.

A silver/black late 60's 280SL made its appearance at a local dealer back in the spring. For a couple months I daydreamed about that car while listening to words of encouragement from my wife. That balloon burst with the purchase of our house, and my older daughter then set the shreds on fire when she started college this fall.

Audio is quite funny as you say. I am a young student (rare in the demographic) and lots of the web places do the outrageous out of reach gear.
I very much prefer "best value" articles, opinion; particular interest in the loudness war... I only follow CNet's the audiophiliac and he does a mix of all things. Because a $200 DAC is too much for me, and I'd rather buy a camera.

As of Photo gear. Seems that things aren't so exaggerate, the Leica S and Digital MF is just about it. Daydream I have is getting a MF RF (GF670, Mamiya 7) which is about $2K

Therun of the mill photo sites and mags are boring. It tends to be a combination of Gearlusting and postprocessing techniques with a very little actual photography part. That's why I like your blog, it's got snippets of everything!

You ask about cars... I'm not very enthusiastic about it.

However, I have lots of fun riding old/crappy vans with fun people. I once was taken for acting in a reenactment and had so much fun with the video crew.
And on my last trip to the Philippines, riding an old van in those crazy roads or a jeepney. That was fun.

Contrary to people my age, I don't like going fast. Sure I'd take a Porsche 911 (nice lines and a classic, like a leica M) but it's nothing I'd write home about; Also, I find amusing fighting with my current car each time the road goes uphill, as its got few hp (70 or so).
As a kid I used to daydream about having a Jaguar XK... But the wish is long gone and I don't miss it because
Car = Expenses, and lots. Better buy some photo gear, film and go for a trip!

I have a friend at college that once said he loves what we are studying because it will get him a luxury car... I found that premise quite sad, really.

I watch Top Gear; so there doesn't seem to be a top end to the price range I'll daydream a little about. That Bugatti Veyron looks really special!

In many ways, the real super-cars are safer to daydream about; no way, in a weak moment a few years down the line, that I could cash in my retirement accounts and buy one! Whereas, if I'm daydreaming about a mere $90,000 car, that could actually happen.

I like reading about Leica collectables (even some of their more garish output), but the Catch 22 is that even if I could afford them, I would hesitate to use them. And if I couldn't use them, I really wouldn't want them.

I had a collector's mentality as a youth, as underscored by my various vinyl editions of "Never Mind the Bollocks," but somewhere in my 30s, perhaps due to financial realities, I became more pragmatic.

As it stands, I'm really quite happy with the camera set up that I have, and since I'm not interested in digital, any interests bordering on 'fantasy' revert back to film, irrespective of brand or such. All this said, I can see myself stocking up on a number of mostly inexpensive LTM and M-mount 50mm's just for kicks.

Oh, if I were rich, I'd probably stick with a two-door Civic unless I was feeling particularly adventurous, getting a two-door Accord instead.

I think the reason people like the reviews of high priced toys is that they like to see what is available at the price-is-no-object level. It also fits well with the 'world-class' hyperbole that surrounds any expensive undertaking. (Usually as an excuse to explain why it's so expensive!)

But to answer your question: The most expensive car I'd dream about is the Porsche 911 - a car that has been in production long enough that a used one can actually be affordable.

Oh - a Maserati, but it's so far off the probability radar that I haven't even researched which model to go for.

Camera? An Alpa that takes the latest digital back and some of those German lenses with long exotic names - but you also need the time and travel money to make the most use of it. Would probably require something more practical than a Maserati to get to the right locations....

I used to lust after Land Rovers too. Bought my first Discovery back in '03, and was grateful when inside of 3 months it gave its life to save my wife's. Bought a second Disco, and put up with being stranded a couple of times, high repair bills, etc. Then it came down with terminal frame rot inside of 9 years. Now every Land Rover I see on the road gets a middle finger salute from me. As a sage philosopher once said:

"You may find that having is not so pleasing a thing as wanting. This is not logical, but it is often true."
-- Spock (Amok Time)

I have a 35 years old Land Rover Series Model. A very basic car, but a joy to drive and a most useful vehicle. I dream that they would make exactly the same car today, using modern manufacturing techniques. No modern frills. None at all. OK power steering then.

Since I now earn well less than half of what I earned when I bought my present car, my aspiration would be to replace it (when it's time comes) with the same/equivalent model. My car is an Acura TSX In the UK its marketed as a Honda Accord, but it is a different car than the US gets as an Accord). Sensible all around, good power, handling, balance. Nice. Kind of reminds me of my favorite stereo speakers I ever owned, Vandersteen 2Cis. Only remarkable for not having stand out features, just well balanced all around.

I did just pay an independent auto shop $22/spark plug (thank goodness its a four cyclinder!), and windshield wipers at $27 and $22 (they're special for the model, naturally). But the car has over 100K miles, and I have no doubt that by the time I get to the moon, it will be running just as well as it does today.

I daydream about a 2005 Subaru Outback Wagon, base model. And how I have put about 4 grand into it this year because my kids (both in college away from home) NEED A CAR to drive when they are home.

And I daydream about fighting with the insurance company every time the bill comes in and the charge needs to be adjusted because the younger kid is far enough away that the premium should not be based on her age (19).

And I daydream about the new tires and rear suspension that the car still needs -- another 2 grand -- ka ching..

And about the chronic and unfixable electrical problem that blows head lights a few times a year. And how daughter #2 got a ticket and a boatload of verbal abuse from a trooper who pulled her over when the lamp burned out on her way home from work this summer -- and would not listen to her when she produced the bag of extra lamps I keep in the car knowing that they will burn out at a moment's notice.

And I daydream about the good old days when I lived in the Bronx and knew all the spots where you could park a car and come back to find it totally stripped within 45 minutes.

And I daydream about the good old days when I was a kid in NYC, had no need for a car, and could get out and about either by public transit or on my single speed, heavy as hell, Sears bike.

I guess I'm past it, because hyper exotics, new or old, no longer amuse me; they seem like trivial bragging rights baubles for the 1% and a high-margin scam for their manufacturers or auction houses, not real cars that anybody actually drives.

Back on Earth, I want the new Audi RS7 ($120K+), but I have the new Lexus GS F Sport ($59K) and the honest truth is I couldn't possibly use a car as fast as the Audi anywhere near where I live, while the GS, a shockingly responsive, razor-sharp driver's car coming from formerly snoozy Lexus, is a near perfect Q-ship for Bay Area roads. And my wife has no idea how fast it will go when she isn't in it; she thinks I've finally gone soft and become a plushmobile chauffeur. Heeheehee...

In real (that is, analog) cars, I often dream of a early 60s Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce Spider, but they are hard to find in perfect shape and I don't really fit in one. Be cool to have one in the living room, though.

I read classic car mags cover to cover and dwell on those models close to my price range; the exotic I admire but don't hanker after. My 1999 SLK Merc is neither classic nor investment material but I love it dearly. It lives on my drive (under a tailored cover) and I clean and wax it regularly.The main thing is it doesn't disrupt the family finances. Same with my cameras. My current EOS 60D is nowhere near top of the range, but I enjoy it and it produces what I want.Apologies to the marketing lobby, but I'm content!

Till recently I was daydreaming about just getting a new car. Our 13 yo forester need a new head gasket, tires, probably a clutch, and there were some electrical problems. Well my daydreaming did come through; we just got a new car (another Forester). It's nice to have a reliable car, with better economy now.

But I do also daydream about cameras; knowing I never can afford the fanciest- it was about getting an em5, but now it's or a em1. I try to keep my daydreaming a bit more realistic.

I don't daydream about cars anymore. If I had the money I'd buy a Tesla Model S. It's gorgeous, sporty, luxurious and environment-friendly. (Not that I'm a tree hugger, mind you, but pollution is an issue.) I wouldn't care for cars like Koenigseggs or those inflated Audi R8's with a "Bugatti" grille: they're for millionaires who will never explore 10% of their potential. (And will crash if they exceed that limit. If you don't believe me, just look at this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Piy_h4QmpI)
The same with Hi-Fi, which prices are going through the roof. Do you think expensive cars are ostentatious? Well, what about a golden darTZeel amp connected to a pair of $600,000 Magico loudspeakers? These items won't be bought by music lovers, rather by people with more money than sense and no taste for music, who only buy records from Chesky and Mobile Fidelity on the grounds of its 'audiophile' quality. This side of audiophillia disgusted me so much I completely stopped buying Hi-Fi magazines (I used to buy 'HiFi News' every month) and quit upgrading my system. Being an audiophile is not about music: it's all about a bunch of ignorants discussing watts, ohms and bits. (Now that reminds me that there are people debating ISO and megapixels... oh, never mind, I got carried away and almost forgot this is an off-topic article.)

When it comes to cameras, I don't daydream about things I can't buy, but about things I can but never will.
I'm quite happy with my equipment, but everytime Nikon-Sony-whatever release something, I can't help to read some reviews and think: "Now that's a system!, I could sell my camera and lenses and make the jump".
But at the end of the day, I'm still happy with what I have and use.

My daydream car is not that expensive, a BMW M coupe from the late 90s. Love that boxy thing!

Some years ago I was still exclusively riding sports motorcycles - even had a gig as a motorcycle journalist. I didn't fantasize then on cars at all - I thought those tin boxes couldn't be anywhere nearly as exciting even as your ever-other-corner-Suzuki.
I think back then (circa 2003-4) the Aprilia Tuono R limited edition was the-drool-thing:

Anyway, later on I was lucky enough to catch a ride with an automobile (we used to call them "tinmobile") tester for an auto magazine - on board a Subaru STi. It was the first car that actually got me excited - the velocity with which you could enter curves with it!

Today, having grown a bit more mileage, I would admit to stop and turn my head on a Bugatti. For sure, a proper 57 or the like can be nice -

I only have one fantasy at the moment, which is to drive for three months around the whole of Europe. Anything photo or car related only matters in relation to that...

I already have what most people would consider a fantasy set of cameras, and all my car needs to make it perfect is some better front seats. Apparently the seats from the sports version fit, and they are a lot nicer. £130 and I'm good.

That's funny, I never really dream about fancy cars much, from the perspective of owning one...I drive a full size truck. But I love looking at fancy cars as objets d'art (or however they say it in French). If I see an Aston Martin on a street it always makes me stop and admire the curves, fit, and finish. This past summer my wife and I came across a late model Ferrari with a glass bonnet over its motor and the Ferrari red just oozing color all over the place. We both just walked around it and admired the depth of the paint, the supple shape of the body...anyway, you get the drift. In an art museum most patrons don't spend much time contemplating how much the art would cost, but they simply admire (or not) the art. For me, cars are pieces of art we sometimes catch a glimpse of out in the wild. Car magazines are rather like an art show catalog...more a primer of what to keep one's eye out for, rather than a catalog of things to buy. As for stereo equipment, I share your sensibilities there as even the Klipsch La Scala's that once graced my college living room were there for function not style. But cars? They can be like art, as well as tools to get us on down the road.

I'd like to try out a Citroen SM, but doubt that I'd keep it more than a year or two. High end cars don't really hold much attraction for me. The level of performance, sophistication, comfort and convenience in my '09 CR-V is all I need. (OK, the interior storage facilities could be a lot better, so maybe a '12 or newer would please me more. Small stuff.) If I were to need to tow something, I would need to step up (Pilot?) but would not be happy about the decrease in mileage.

Hi-Fi equipment is a slightly different story. I don't have a lot of interest in truly expensive gear (except for a turntable,) but will be spending what is for me some serious cash on a 2nd system with Marantz gear that I will have modified by The Upgrade Company.

Taxes for cars in most of Asia are 100-500%. As an example, Mini Cooper costs more than USD100,000 in Singapore. Yet one can see Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Bentleys in just about every big city in Asia. Some people have the money and are not at all ashamed to show it. Car is the most visible symbol of wealth and therefore maybe gets bigger share of disposable cash than stereos for example. It is also usually cheaper than a similarly ostentatious house.

I know I already posted a comment, but this just hit me: a long time ago you asked the same question, and I said "a digital Nikonos".
The Nikon 1 AW1 is not exactly the same, but is getting closer.
This must be the first time the marketing gurus agree with me on something...

It's not a car. but I guess a RV setup for a photographer. It does not exist. If it did, it would have these features:

Roof top access with a built in 35 meter hydraulic pole with a 360 robot head with live view and camera control. This all feeds back into a nice little office space with Wifi of course. Plenty of power both green and nasty carbon as backup and a very simple living space with a small kitchen and a nice (via RV standards bathroom.) Add to that the type of power system that a Chevy Volt has and I'm on the road for next to ever. :)

Never going happen in my view, why the green power systems are not being used in Vans, trucks, etc is a real mystery to me as these are the platforms that could benefit most.

An Austin-Healy 100-4, the first "big Healy", from circa 1953-1956, in blue, with the windshield that folds down into a windscreen.

Why? Because it was the first sports car my dad ever bought, legendary in our family for the "really good deal" he got when he bought it. This is very much like a lot of valued technology in my family: things that were a 'good deal' when they were new, because they served a purpose, were well made, and were a decent price for the time. A Rollieflex, a Spotmatic, a Retina IIc, a Speed Graphic, the Nikkor 105/2.5, they all belong to the family pantheon of neat things someone got a good deal on. Looking upon them with nostalgia is probably a disservice to the memory of the people who have gone before me. My only regret is that times have changed, and that I am unlikely to find something so useful that will last more than five or six years, merely because electronics rot.

As for the Healy, I've never even seen one in person. I would dearly love to ride in one someday, and find out what it feels like, and what it was like to have one when they were new. I've been told that with these small sports cars, the driver's head aligns with the rear axle, that the sensation is that when you turn the wheel, the world moves with you. I'd like to demystify that one, and find out for myself.

Hemmings has listings for the next model, the 100-6, for as little as $23,000 for a "weekend driver", the lowest class of functionality before you get to "the motor turns easily by hand". That might as well be 230,000 for all that I can afford to pay - I'll be buying a new car next month - a functional little Honda Fit. But that will be through a loan, and that will be a necessity, not a luxury.

Though, to be fair, it might be the next entry in the pantheon of "commodity, firmness, and delight".* A Fit has the best ratio of good miles per gallon to price of any car, the most spacious and flexible interior space of any car with that gas milage and price, the best visibility of any car of its type, and is made by a manufacturer who's cars are know for their longevity. Let it be my Spotmatic!

Will

*Commodity, firmness and delight, or in modern language: the ideal is usefulness, sturdiness, and beauty, a phrase that comes from the 1624 translation of Vitruvius' book De Architectura.

I have a 1Dx and 5DIii. I've owned every 1 series camera since the 1DsII and the D3 when it first came out. I own Acuras, Lexus (2), and Hondas. I'd love a Ferrari and if I could afford it I'd buy one in a NY minute. With no apologies to anyone. And I'd owna Porsche too. And the Leica too. Why not? Nothing wrong with toys, both practical and impractical.

I just replaced my 10 year old subaru with a honda accord. it took every ounce of my being to pony up the $20k for the base model (with a manual transmission - no auto!). this was four months ago and I still feel like I'm in heaven every day when I can adjust the volume on the steering wheel. I suppose if I was dreaming I would have sprung for a sunroof.

Expensive cars? How 'bout a $750,000 Patek Philippe WATCH? Or a $450,000 A. Lange & Sohne? And those are just two out of dozens of examples of mid to high six figure (and more than a few seven figure) timepieces coming out of Switzerland (and Germany) these days.

Who in the H*LL has THAT kind of money to spend on a watch??? And business is just booming away in that segment, so there's a lot of 'em out there and more and more every year.

My vehicular daydreams tend to revolve less around the unattainably expensive, and more toward the "what can I do which would be outrageously silly/different?"

When I lived in the UK I wound up buying a 1988 Pontiac Trans-Am. Now living in the US, I find myself wondering how a Lotus Talbot Sunbeam, Ford Sierra Cosworth or one of those Renault Clios with a V6 between the rear wheels could be brought in, not that I have the money for such things. But then again if I could actually afford them they would no longer be idle daydreams.

I have little interest in the rarified world of hyper expensive hyper cars besides seeing how fast the Stig can power lap them. They're so far beyond attainable that they don't show up on my radar at all.

Back in the 60s when my brother sold Ferraris, Maseratis, Porsches, ALFAs and M-B, he used to say that it was unfortunate that most of those who could afford exotics were either too old or incompetent to enjoy them! Just look at the drivers of cars like Corvettes and Porsches - and when was the last time you actually saw one going fast? In LA, the same goes for every exotic - in my new iBook on California Cars, I devote a whole chapter to exotics, including an ENZO, legally parked in handicapped spaces.
There is another saying that goes "It's more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow."
BTW, in the 45 cars I have owned in the last 50 years are 2 each MINIs (new series) and Miatas, two dozen ALFAs (5 I raced), a few BMWs and a ton of trucks and SUVs to tow with. I am currently very happy with my BMW 128 i Coupe.
But I woild like a new BMW i8 to play with!

How is spending $300,000 on a car different than spending $300,000 on a fine painting or premium photograph? Over time Ferrari's can go up in value enormously just like artwork. Leica cameras too, if we live long enough.

A world filled only with mid-range Chevys, APS-C sensor cameras, and plywood bed pool tables would not be all that interesting in many ways. I'm glad there are people who can spend absurd amounts of money on their toys, it generally helps employ lots of other people and provides some entertainment for the rest of us.

My dream car? I've driven the Bugatti Veyron and it's more astonishing than test reports can tell. If I win the lotto I'll be flying to Molsheim to order mine.

Every day, I pass a five-star hotel. Bentleys, Rollses, Ferraris, Maseratis on the curb. Mercs and Porsches only for the cheaper clientèle. As a warm-up arithmetic exercise, I try to guess the cumulative pricing of the cars — and their value as scrap metal. Sobering!

I'm glad I don't drive. Never been tempted. Bikes only. Vehicle-wise, my utilitarian dream bike would have a NuVinci continuous variable transmission + belt drive, XXL frame on 29" wheels. The Leica S equivalent bike would be a Moulton New Series Double Pylon foldable cycle. No coincidence, Alex Moulton used to be a Rolls engineer.

Come to think of it, the Moulton wouldn't cost more than a D800E cum Zeiss Otus 55mm. And could last a lifetime, without obsolescence.

I'm with you. I'm not going to buy a Ferrari so I'm not really interested in reading about them. I once wrote a letter to Stereophile expressing that sentiment. One part of their reply was that new technology often appears first in high-end products so the average Joe might be interested in the high end just to see what might be coming. I'll give 'em that but even so I'm not so interested until I can buy it myself.

A car in and of itself is not a daydream for me. I daydreamed of having a car, any car, when I was 16. But the dream was more about having the means to get to places. Now, almost 30 years later, I still don't have daydreams about cars. Even if I were to lust after a certain car, the daydream would be about having the wealth and lifestyle that would make it easy for me to have such a car. To have an expensive car with my current income and living situation wouldn't be a nice dream at all.

Camera is a different story. I do daydream about a camera that no manufacturer has been willing to make.

I can't see the point in spending many thousands on high level hi-fi equipment when in most cases, the equipment used to record the original on was just average.

People who spend money on oxygen free copper transported from the mine by unicorns with gold plating applied by elves using dodo feathers seem to forget that in the studio, the signal passed through many stages of circuits made with ordinary copper and tin/lead PCBs with very standard connecting cables.

I currently own one of my dream cars. An all original 18,000 mile 1970 Mini Clubman, complete with optional Hydrolastic suspension, red-interior, and not optional leftover 1969 pieces attached by the factory. The other dream "car" I would like to get is my step-dads 1976 Kenworth W900 truck, it was the first ever automobile I worked when I was five years old.

Oh, and since we're talking about Miatas, if you'd like a little more power, consider a Honda S2000. I've owned a NA, NB, and recently drove an NC. The Miata steering is more communicative than the S2000, but in all other areas the S2000 is superior, and now it's a great used bargain.

Oh, and one more thing...had I known that motorcycles were fair game, I'd have said that I already have my dream vehicle...

Great, I am not a lone. I was dreaming about the Tesla model S, until they announced the Model X. Now I day dream about that one. Buy a house or get a Tesla? You can live in a car right, $90 000 is the absolute max on my end.

[One problem, houses *generally* appreciate (at least over the long haul), cars *generally* depreciate (over the long and short haul). I've heard it's a smarter to put a little more money into your house and a little less into your car, than your level of wealth might indicate. Of course I'm no financial whiz. --Mike

I dream about a car (diesel) that is built to run to 300,000 miles or more while doing 45 mpg (I mean imperial gallons here, as used in the UK - 45 mpg is about 6 l / 100 km) or better. I don't want lots of toys and features, just solid build. Essentially I would like something with the design philosophy of the BMW E34 5-series (1988 - 1996), the Mercedes W124 E-class (1985 - 1995), or the Audi A6 from the same time: mechanically built up to a spec rather than down to a price, but (if ordered without optional extras) few unecessary and expensive-to-repair toys.

I am still driving my E34 5-series Touring, and I would like to think that if I have to replace it one day, I can do so with another car that combines its simplicity and solidity, while being a bit less thirsty at the pumps.

Mike, I own a Ferrari, an F430, and I enjoy reading TOP. The best description I've heard used re what makes driving a Ferrari such a surpassing experience is that the car literally fizzes. You feel the fizz through every part of your body. It's worth every penny. The only thing that compares is to play a Ken Wilkinson Decca recording through a pair of Genesis Ones. Same fizz.

I would love to be reunited with my first car. It was a 1960 Triumph TR3a. Not gonna happen but it would be all the toy I need for a nice summer drive here in the Loess Hills. As the saying goes "it's more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow".

Quite some time back I belonged to a car club that held "track day" events where people could run their street cars on road courses. I eventually did driving instruction at events as well as doing tech inspections to make sure the cars were in good mechanical shape before going out. As a result I rode in, drove, and crawled around a large variety of cars from the mundane to the exotic.

Some things I learned: Exotic cars from the 1970s through the 1990s often had terrible Achilles heels that would make them a royal pain to live with. Ferraris of those years tended to have terrible driving positions and precious little headroom (I'm of average height). Corvettes had gearboxes with incredibly heavy action that had to be shifted slowly and deliberately. Most everything exotic had terrible rear visibility, the side mirrors were often of little use, and figuring out where the front corners at while driving one was very difficult. You might think "so what, they made compromises for speed" but many of those compromises impacted your ability to get enjoyment out of driving them.

To make matters worse, many of the exotics would break at least one minor (yet expensive) item over the course of a weekend at the track whereas more run-of-the-mill performance cars would typically complete the weekend without issue.

Those experiences dampened my enthusiasm for exotics. While I'm sure they're improved in the years since (like all cars have) if I really wanted to drive fast I'd go take another racing school and get some seat time in a wings-and-slicks open-wheeler (which will blow the doors off of any production car on a racetrack) and then hop back into my practical car to go home.

My dream a Ural 2wd sidecar rig. Then I could sell my 4wd Ranger that I put less than 1000 mi a year on. Snow on the road days and hauling stuff only. My four motorcycles take me 10,000 + mi 365 days here in SE Pa.

How ironic- although Michael started off here writing about materialism and the wretched excess of the upper class, almost every responder wrote in to describe their own car, and why they chose it. A point has been missed here, methinks.

So, instead, I'll talk about stereo equipment. Recently I attended the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest. It was my first visit, and I was surprised at how big it was. I knew that five-figure loudspeakers existed, but not that there seemed to be three figures worth of companies making them. With very few brands I recognized. Don't buyers worry about repair resources for these low-run, small-shop products? Coming back a second day, I kept finding more hotel floors of demo rooms. Each room seemed like a monastic cell, where small groups of the faithful strained to witness miracles at the shrine of stereo. My kind of people, in brief. Unlike my friends who I've told of the experience, who stare back blankly without a glimmer of interest in the pleasure that better audio can give.

The variety of excellent sound and music on display was inspiring. I left refreshed, resolved to spend even more time listening to great new music on my three stereo systems, made up of secondhand bargains from forgotten audiophile brands that might have been heard at such a show throughout the late 20th Century. I felt proud to know a secret that those uppercrust afficianados don't, or don't care about-- the price/quality of used two-channel audio gear is amazing. My latest purchase, a speaker set from an obscure British manufacturer, cost $20 at a pawn shop. Complete with titanium tweeters!

If, conversely, you handed me a $20,000 credit that I would have to spend at that show, it would have driven me crazy. Too many appealing choices! Maybe the rich don't have it so easy after all...

In my mind, the car is the better value to the stereo. A half-million dollar car produces performance that one might never be able to recreate without it. The stereo, on the other hand, will be out performed by going out and seeing a concert.